Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home
Director: Dwight H. Little
Cast: Jason James Richter, August Schellenberg, Francis Capra, Michael Madsen, Jayne Atkinson, Mary Kate Schellhardt
Two years ago, a friendship was born out of loneliness when Jesse (Jason James Richter) befriended a lonely Orca named Willy. He saved Willy’s life and reunited him with his family in the ocean. Now, the lives of Willy and his siblings, Luna and Littlespot, depend on the strength of the bond Jesse and Willy share. Jesse is now a teenager, living with his adoptive parents (Michael Madsen, Jayne Atkinson) when his half-brother, Elvis (Francis Capra), shows up on the heels of their birth mother's death. When Jesse learns that an oil spill is endangering the life of his beloved friend, Jesse must reunite Willy and his siblings with their mother before their home is destroyed forever.
Family plays a powerful role in this film and nowhere is it illustrated more beautifully than in the characters of Jesse and Willy.
Ever since he was a young boy, Jesse has been desperately searching for his birth mother, who abandoned him as a baby. His dream of reuniting with her is shattered, however, when he learns that his mother passed away, in New York City. He tells his adoptive father, Glenn, that he had always held onto the hope that if he believed hard enough, he would finally be reunited with his mother. Her death, coupled with the news that he now has a half-brother named Elvis, leaves Jesse feeling heartbroken and alone. When Jesse sees Willy with his family, he is initially overjoyed to be reunited with his friend and he is most happy to see that Willy was reunited with his mother. His joy at seeing Willy with his family is cemented when he is reunited with his beloved friend when Willy comes to visit him. This moment is significant not only because they are together again, but also because this is the first time that Jesse really allows himself to feel the full weight of grief following in the wake of his mother’s death. When Willy and his siblings are trapped in the cove after an oil spill and Luna falls ill, Jesse vows to protect the whales and reunite them with their family. I think this vow so important for Jesse, not only because Willy is his friend and he wants to protect him, but also because he lost his own mom...and now Willy has lost his mother again as well, and Jesse is absolutely determined to get Willy back to her. He does not want his friend to feel the same grief that he does, having lost his own mom.
The bond between Jesse and his brother, Elvis, plays a vital role in the film as well. In the beginning, both brothers are hidden behind a wall of anger and grief. They are both grieving the loss of their mother, and neither of them feel particularly happy with the idea that they have lost their mother and gained a brother in her place. Throughout the story, they do find that they share a great deal in common. Their first moment of sincere connection is when Elvis allows Jesse to see into his fragile heart. He tells Jesse that his mother promised Elvis that she loved him and would never leave him…a promise that she also likely made to Jesse…and a promise, that she never got to keep to either of her sons. I think that the Orcas were the catalyst which allowed the bond between Jesse and Elvis to be healed. Their bond is born over a shared loss of their mother...and that bond comes full circle when they save Willy’s family and Elvis shows Jesse a photograph…a photograph of Jesse with his birth mother. He tells Jesse that his mother loved him and missed him after she left…and it is this confirmation of her love, coupled with the photograph that allows the brothers to finally become a family.
I have always had a very special place in my heart for Free Willy and this second chapter of his story is just as beautiful and emotionally poignant. The bond between Jesse and Willy is the emotional highlight of the film. The cinematography is stunning. The casting for the movie is on point, particularly for Jason James Richter as Jesse. This is definitely a film that I would HIGHLY recommend.
© 2021 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Dwight H. Little
Cast: Jason James Richter, August Schellenberg, Francis Capra, Michael Madsen, Jayne Atkinson, Mary Kate Schellhardt
Two years ago, a friendship was born out of loneliness when Jesse (Jason James Richter) befriended a lonely Orca named Willy. He saved Willy’s life and reunited him with his family in the ocean. Now, the lives of Willy and his siblings, Luna and Littlespot, depend on the strength of the bond Jesse and Willy share. Jesse is now a teenager, living with his adoptive parents (Michael Madsen, Jayne Atkinson) when his half-brother, Elvis (Francis Capra), shows up on the heels of their birth mother's death. When Jesse learns that an oil spill is endangering the life of his beloved friend, Jesse must reunite Willy and his siblings with their mother before their home is destroyed forever.
Family plays a powerful role in this film and nowhere is it illustrated more beautifully than in the characters of Jesse and Willy.
Ever since he was a young boy, Jesse has been desperately searching for his birth mother, who abandoned him as a baby. His dream of reuniting with her is shattered, however, when he learns that his mother passed away, in New York City. He tells his adoptive father, Glenn, that he had always held onto the hope that if he believed hard enough, he would finally be reunited with his mother. Her death, coupled with the news that he now has a half-brother named Elvis, leaves Jesse feeling heartbroken and alone. When Jesse sees Willy with his family, he is initially overjoyed to be reunited with his friend and he is most happy to see that Willy was reunited with his mother. His joy at seeing Willy with his family is cemented when he is reunited with his beloved friend when Willy comes to visit him. This moment is significant not only because they are together again, but also because this is the first time that Jesse really allows himself to feel the full weight of grief following in the wake of his mother’s death. When Willy and his siblings are trapped in the cove after an oil spill and Luna falls ill, Jesse vows to protect the whales and reunite them with their family. I think this vow so important for Jesse, not only because Willy is his friend and he wants to protect him, but also because he lost his own mom...and now Willy has lost his mother again as well, and Jesse is absolutely determined to get Willy back to her. He does not want his friend to feel the same grief that he does, having lost his own mom.
The bond between Jesse and his brother, Elvis, plays a vital role in the film as well. In the beginning, both brothers are hidden behind a wall of anger and grief. They are both grieving the loss of their mother, and neither of them feel particularly happy with the idea that they have lost their mother and gained a brother in her place. Throughout the story, they do find that they share a great deal in common. Their first moment of sincere connection is when Elvis allows Jesse to see into his fragile heart. He tells Jesse that his mother promised Elvis that she loved him and would never leave him…a promise that she also likely made to Jesse…and a promise, that she never got to keep to either of her sons. I think that the Orcas were the catalyst which allowed the bond between Jesse and Elvis to be healed. Their bond is born over a shared loss of their mother...and that bond comes full circle when they save Willy’s family and Elvis shows Jesse a photograph…a photograph of Jesse with his birth mother. He tells Jesse that his mother loved him and missed him after she left…and it is this confirmation of her love, coupled with the photograph that allows the brothers to finally become a family.
I have always had a very special place in my heart for Free Willy and this second chapter of his story is just as beautiful and emotionally poignant. The bond between Jesse and Willy is the emotional highlight of the film. The cinematography is stunning. The casting for the movie is on point, particularly for Jason James Richter as Jesse. This is definitely a film that I would HIGHLY recommend.
© 2021 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.